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Recently, Luc Montagnier said that, because AIDS drugs were so toxic, currect researching was focusing on developing treatments based on immune boosting therapies. In order the body could succesfully fight against the virus and stay healthy.Do you know if those thjerapies are now being used, or, if not, they will be soon available?

Montagnier's statement is very general and nothing new really. We'll know soon enough if they come up with any effective alternatives. This is really just a press release without any specific solid news attached.

IMMUNE BOOSTING TREATMENTS -- were outlined in this paper given by a Vet for helping with cancer...see last section Section 7. on this page it has all the latest knowledge of immune boostingbut all very experimental, i have seen some, a few clinical trials,

of course hiv guys have been doing immune boost things for years... under the table so to speaksuch as HGH - human growth hormoneAnabolic Steroids - (shown to interfear with FasL signals that tell the T cells to self distruct- see postings on here in past)

the problem ... is there are side effects and science has not shown that it gives any longer lifeonly HAART gives longer life

but the guys in LA who have been poz 20 yrs or 25 yrs who are rich and have super insurance and top Dr.s getHGH - human growth hormone and Anabolic Steroids Rx's all the time, it is almost a cliche to see a built guy in LA who is poz perhaps in smaller cities and towns this is not known,

i cannot say that it prolongs life but it may improve thier quality of life or they tell me that it does but it could be just someone who is addicted to the stuff, part of this is money, economic class thing... the rich or those with good insurance in LA get this stuff, the average people dont get it from thier clinic or Dr.

but it is not proven to extend life, i think in 90- 94 before protease inhibitors it did help keep some guys alive long enough to get on the HAART --- it being steriods and hgh

i personally am afraid of the side effects and never have tried and dont want to risk it

if i was 20 years poz having resistance with meds, loosing weight and wasting then absolutely i would get on steriods and hgh

but every state is different, one state if a Dr. Rx's these things can get in tons of trouble, loose license, but in big gay cities in liberal states it is normal

this is IMHO

perhaps you have another idea

just my guesses

but HAART is the only thing that will stop virus proven

and there are tons of new trials... see my posts or other posts on here ... do a search for my post and there are tons of great new meds low toxicity...

Some persons on this forum(only a few) are being very rude. In the meanwhile I prefer to keep serenity and courtesy.

The statement of the forum says: ' AIDSmeds/POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/FAMILY/caregivers, and OTHERS CONCERNED about HIV/AIDS'

Some among you are ' inviting me' to leave the forum since the first day I arrived. Why so suspicious and distrustful? why so rude? Have I broken any of the forum´s rules? Nevertheless: thanks to all who have answered me with good faith.

This is a FORMATIVE and INFORMATIVE forum about HIV and AIDS and I am FREE to ask politely all questions I have regarding this subject. OR NOT?

Some persons on this forum(only a few) are being very rude. In the meanwhile I prefer to keep serenity and courtesy.

The statement of the forum says: ' AIDSmeds/POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/FAMILY/caregivers, and OTHERS CONCERNED about HIV/AIDS'

Some among you are ' inviting me' to leave the forum since the first day I arrived. Why so suspicious and distrustful? why so rude? Have I broken any of the forum´s rules? Nevertheless: thanks to all who have answered me with good faith.

This is a FORMATIVE and INFORMATIVE forum about HIV and AIDS and I am FREE to ask politely all questions I have regarding this subject. OR NOT?

With the exception of the “Am I Infected?” and “Off Topic” Forums, the AIDSmeds.com Forums are intended for people who have been diagnosed with HIV (or their loved ones/caregivers). If you are questioning or unaware of your HIV status, please refrain from posting messages or questions in the Forums intended for HIV-positive people.

Thanks for asking that question. Does anyone have experience or perspective on IL-2. Its been used in poz folks in research settings for over a decade. At one point, it seemed like it was getting a negative review, but the research continued. I think there has been some beneficial results recently.? Access to IL-2 for PWAs and poz?

Any source of comprehensive up date on immune boosting treatments for HIV infection or cancers? Thanks. Hank

Thanks for asking that question. Does anyone have experience or perspective on IL-2. Its been used in poz folks in research settings for over a decade. At one point, it seemed like it was getting a negative review, but the research continued. I think there has been some beneficial results recently.? Access to IL-2 for PWAs and poz?

Any source of comprehensive up date on immune boosting treatments for HIV infection or cancers? Thanks. Hank

Hey Hank,

Before you go jumping into bed with TheFool there (though that would be deliciously appropriate) you might wanna check out the issue that brought him to us in the first place.

IL-2 has a reasonable track record in producing temporary increases n CD4 counts, and at the same time making you feel like you got the flu. If your CD4 count is very low, like 50 or sommat, it may be worthwhile (on the basis that with low CD4s, more is definately more), but there are no studies showing long-term immnological or virological benefits. A decent, working combo is likely to produce better CD4 gains, even for people with very low CD4 counts.

Wonder what the FDA consideration/approval is? I understand the Esprit study is concluded.

ESPRIT is fully enrolled, meaning that it's no longer accepting new study volunteers. However, the study is still ongoing. I think they extended the length of the study, as patients in both groups -- IL-2 recipients and placebo recipients -- are doing very well on antiretroviral therapy, hence there haven't yet been enough "endpoints" (disease progression or death) to conclude if there's a clinical benefit associated with ARV therapy plus IL-2 vs. ARV therapy alone. And with the extension, if there's still no statistically significant difference in clinical endpoints, the conclusion of the study might be that IL-2 offers no additional benefit.

The problem with studies that try to boost the immune system with just one IL is that the immune system is so vastly complex, and the body also that it will require or could require a symphony of boosting agents together to regulate things and fight hiv at the same time, this is simply a result of any non linear system, a system that is more than the sum of its parts...

here is an outline for some possible targets to help boost the immune system....

# ** HIV-mediated** I coined this phrase -- what i mean by it is the HIV produces all these molecules and proteins,# nef for example, without that protein that hiv produces# there would be no disease progression whatso ever, these# molecules and proteins that are in the blood that turn off# or down regulate the CD8 cells amoung many other things so# ( there is an anology here to hiv also,# i believe but i would have to find sources(9) are bisphosphonate compounds or other# analogous compounds actived in hiv(10) for hiv-mediated immune suppression# disease the CD numbers are a different series or group(11) Tumor associated antigens (TAA)# would this become HIV CD4 infected specific antigen?(12) Presented to CD4 helper T cells ---# here is an interesting detour in the analogy that may unlock some possible ways to attack...# if it is presented to cd4, how can that# happen if many are infected(13) here is where we get closer into the CD4 and CD8 T cells# via co-stimulatory molecules ---- , ctla, etc many many others# postive and negative signals...#(14) here we are at the big thing i write about(15) why isnt 14 and 15 standard treatments now,# it is my understanding that the drugs exist...# monoclonal antibodies etc or IL or various(16) there is an amazingly long equilibrium period# in hiv mediated immune distruction,# for example it is on aveerage 4 to 11 years long!! before significant disease states occur# mainly below 200 tcells(17)** is this what happens when the tcells begin rapid decline# ... both innate and adaptive become overwelmed(18) analogy falls apart here because, the cd4 cells# do not evade like cancer or better put# they all evade because they are actually inside the cd4 cell# that is what should be helping to set up immune response# but isnt it the nef and cd8 exhaused# by pd-1 being hi state, by an yet unknow protein or molecule# that causes the evasion???(19) i guess the infected CD4 cell itself# would be considered the tumor bed in hiv disease(20) in hiv disease there is an over# abundance overwhelming inflammatory stimulus(21)( this must be a huge area of# research and needs billions of dollars) (21)(22) critically important... to support CD8 expansion (22) ***